What is the No. 1 Movie? A 2000-Word Deep Dive into The Godfather (1972)

Cinema has evolved over more than a century, offering audiences a vast array of stories—epic adventures, emotional dramas, thrilling mysteries, and bold experiments in narrative and technique. Yet, when asked, “What is the No. 1 movie of all time?” one film consistently emerges at the top of lists, polls, and critical rankings: The Godfather (1972).

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on the novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather is more than just a movie—it’s a cultural phenomenon that redefined American cinema. It stands as a landmark achievement in storytelling, acting, direction, and influence. This article explores The Godfather in depth—its plot, themes, characters, production, impact, and legacy—to understand why it remains the greatest movie of all time.

I. The Story: A Tale of Power, Family, and Corruption

Overview:

The Godfather tells the story of the powerful Corleone family, one of the Five Families that control organized crime in New York in the 1940s and 1950s. At its core, the film is about family, loyalty, and the moral cost of power.

The plot follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), a decorated war hero and the youngest son of mafia boss Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Initially reluctant to involve himself in the family’s criminal dealings, Michael is eventually drawn into the family’s internal and external conflicts after an assassination attempt on his father. Over time, he transforms from a quiet outsider into a ruthless leader, taking over as the new “Godfather.”

II. Act-by-Act Breakdown

Act 1: The Wedding and the War

The film opens with the lavish wedding of Connie Corleone, Vito’s daughter. According to Sicilian tradition, no man can refuse a request on his daughter’s wedding day. This opening scene not only introduces us to Don Vito’s world but also sets the tone—rich in culture, honor, and power.

Meanwhile, we meet Michael, who is attending the wedding with his girlfriend, Kay Adams. He tries to distance himself from the family’s affairs, telling Kay, “That’s my family, Kay. It’s not me.”

As the Corleones refuse to enter the drug trade with rival gangster Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, tensions rise, leading to an attempt on Vito’s life.

Act 2: Rise of Michael

After the failed hit on his father, Michael becomes more involved. In a dramatic turning point, he kills Sollozzo and a corrupt police captain in a Bronx restaurant. He flees to Sicily to avoid retaliation and legal consequences.

While in Sicily, Michael falls in love and marries a local woman, Apollonia, but she is killed in a car bomb meant for him. This moment is crucial—it cements the loss of Michael’s innocence.

Back in New York, Vito recovers but is aging and weakened. Sonny, the hot-headed eldest son, temporarily takes control but is violently gunned down in an ambush. Vito realizes that Michael is the only one capable of continuing the family legacy.

Act 3: Transformation and Takeover

Michael returns home, reunites with Kay, and marries her, promising to legitimize the family business. But as Vito dies of a heart attack, Michael must assume full control.

In the film’s chilling climax, Michael orchestrates the simultaneous murders of all rival mob heads, during the baptism of Connie’s baby (whom he becomes godfather to). This powerful juxtaposition—sacred ceremony and cold-blooded murder—symbolizes Michael’s complete transformation.

The film ends with Kay witnessing Michael’s final acceptance as Don Corleone, shutting the door on her and symbolizing the end of the man she once knew.

III. Characters and Performances

1. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino):

Michael’s arc is one of the most compelling in film history. He starts as a reluctant outsider and evolves into a cold, calculating boss. Pacino’s restrained yet powerful performance charts this descent with chilling realism.

2. Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando):

Brando’s portrayal is iconic. He infuses Vito with both tenderness and menace. His raspy voice, slow movements, and calm demeanor embody power under control. Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor, though he famously refused it.

3. Sonny Corleone (James Caan):

The eldest son is passionate, impulsive, and violent—qualities that contrast sharply with Michael’s cold logic. His brutal death is one of the most shocking scenes in cinema.

4. Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall):

The family’s consigliere, Tom represents the voice of reason. As an adopted son, he’s both inside and outside the core family dynamic.

5. Kay Adams (Diane Keaton):

Kay serves as the audience’s moral compass. Her heartbreak and disillusionment mirror our own as Michael embraces his dark destiny.

IV. Themes and Symbolism

1. Family and Power:

The Godfather explores the duality of family—its capacity for love and protection, as well as corruption and control. The Corleones do everything “for the family,” yet destroy it in the process.

2. The American Dream:

On the surface, the film is about Italian immigrants seeking prosperity. But it also critiques how the American Dream can be tainted by greed and violence.

3. Legacy and Identity:

Vito wants Michael to be different—to be “Senator Corleone.” Yet Michael inherits the mantle of power, suggesting that family legacy can trap as much as it guides.

4. Violence and Redemption:

The film doesn’t glamorize violence. It presents it as calculated, inevitable, and tragic. Even Michael’s rise comes at a great personal cost, including his soul.

V. Cinematic Brilliance

Direction (Francis Ford Coppola):

Coppola’s direction is both epic and intimate. He masterfully balances quiet character moments with grand sequences of violence and tension. His choice to slow down pacing and linger on faces gives the film emotional gravity.

Cinematography (Gordon Willis):

Known as “The Prince of Darkness,” Willis used deep shadows and low lighting to evoke the film’s moral ambiguity. The iconic dim interiors reflect the shadowy world of organized crime.

Score (Nino Rota):

The melancholic theme—slow, haunting, and beautiful—perfectly matches the film’s tone. It is one of the most recognizable pieces of music in movie history.

Editing (William Reynolds & Peter Zinner):

The film is perfectly paced. Every scene matters. The baptism montage, intercutting sacred ritual and brutal murder, is one of the greatest sequences in editing history.

VI. Cultural Impact and Legacy

Box Office and Awards:

The Godfather was a massive commercial success, earning nearly $250 million worldwide (a fortune at the time). It won three Academy Awards:

Best Picture
Best Actor (Brando)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Coppola & Puzo)

It also received seven more nominations, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

Influence on Cinema:

The film inspired a wave of gangster dramas and elevated the genre from pulp entertainment to high art. It showed that a “crime movie” could be a serious, thoughtful, and philosophical work.

Quotable Lines:

The Godfather has given us some of the most famous lines in film:

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.”
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”

These quotes are now part of pop culture and frequently referenced in other films, TV shows, and books.

VII. The Trilogy and Beyond

The Godfather was followed by two sequels:

The Godfather Part II (1974): Considered by many to be equal (or even superior) to the original, it tells two parallel stories: Michael’s consolidation of power and a young Vito (played by Robert De Niro) rising in early 20th-century New York.
The Godfather Part III (1990): While less acclaimed, it completes Michael’s tragic arc with a theme of repentance.

Together, the trilogy is seen as one of the most ambitious and successful film sagas ever created.

**VIII. Why The Godfather Is the No. 1 Movie**

Timeless Storytelling:
It’s a Shakespearean epic set in the criminal underworld. The emotions—love, betrayal, ambition—are universal.
Masterful Craftsmanship:
Every element—from lighting to performance to editing—is done with extraordinary care and precision.
Cultural Influence:
It has permeated the cultural fabric, influencing not only cinema but literature, television, music, and even political rhetoric.
Rewatch Value:
Audiences can revisit The Godfather again and again, always finding new meaning or appreciating its subtleties.
Critical and Popular Acclaim:
It tops countless lists, including those by AFI, IMDb, and Sight & Sound. Critics hail it, and audiences love it. 1 movie

Conclusion

So, what is the No. 1 movie?
The Godfather (1972), without question, earns the title. It is a film that changed the landscape of cinema forever. Its story of family, power, and transformation resonates across time and cultures. Its characters live on in our minds, and its impact echoes in every gangster movie that followed.

As long as people watch movies, The Godfather will remain the gold standard—a cinematic masterpiece whose legacy is, like the Corleone name, untouchable. 1 movie